This Is Where it Ends

Arabella felt her whole body go numb for a moment.

Maybe she’d read it wrong. Maybe.

She closed the note…then opened it again. But the words didn't change.

Adrian really wrote those words. She knew his handwriting well so there was no mistaking it.

Arabella tilted her head back, forcing herself to hold back the tears.

Maybe this was just another drunken mistake. After all, he had a lot to drink that night at the party.

But when she continued to open one page after another, her heart sank deeper into the bottom of her belly.

Adrian had kept a record of every flirty word he said to her…and then laughed it off as a joke.

Everytime he held her hand and felt butterflies in his stomach.

Every time his gaze lingered on her a little too long.

And every time he bought her gifts because they reminded him of how beautiful she was.

More tears pumped out of Arabella's eyes, as she realized it wasn't all just in her head.

The words that made her heart flutter, the touch that gave her butterflies…they were all deliberate.

She wasn't confusing things. Adrian was really seducing her…making her fall for him.

And when she did…he panicked and tried to create a distance.

He even knew the moment she realized she’d fallen for him. Something Arabella still wasn't sure of.

Arabella's memory replayed to the eve of her high school reunion party years ago when he interrupted a dance she was having with a male friend.

Adrian had noticed Arabella being uncomfortable and intervened at the perfect time…so perfect that Arabella wrapped her hands around him in what felt like the warmest hug ever.

It had caused quite a stare back then, but everyone knew how protective of her Adrian was, so they didn't talk about it.

Maybe it was the way her heart thudded louder than ever that gave away her feelings?

But somehow he knew right then and there she’d fallen for him.

Her tears dropped on the pages, each drop soaking the paper as her hands trembled by the edge.

She could still remember how he stopped coming home for the small holidays from his law school…and how he started to ignore her calls.

Arabella covered her mouth as a choked sob threatened to escape her.

“Serena asked why I call Arabella 'Petals.' I lied, said it's a sibling thing. Truth is, I've memorized every mark on her skin. She's my sister, for God's sake. I'm trying so hard to love the right person. I keep failing. I'm sick.”

Just when she thought nothing more could surprise her, she opened to the next page. It was about their one-night stand.

He wasn't drunk that night.

"I told everyone I was too drunk to remember. Told Serena it meant nothing. Told myself it was a mistake. But I remember everything. Every sound she made. Every time she said my name. It was the best night of my life, and I let her think she seduced me. I'm a coward."

Arabella's hands shook.

He knew. He'd always known.

Arabella's throat clicked as she swallowed, the words blurring for a moment before she blinked them back into focus.

A hollow ache settled beneath her ribs, spreading slowly and cold as she read the last lines on the page, “I love Arabella, but dirty feelings will ruin my family.”

“I can not disappoint my Father. I can't love. I will never love her…because I can't protect her. Serena will have to do.”

Arabella let out a shaky exhale, the kind that sounded more like defeat than breath. “This…this is what he calls love?”

She let out a humourless laugh that did nothing to the sting as she wiped her face off.

There were still so many pages left to read. Probably about the pregnancy, the forced marriage and everything in between.

But she was done crying over an asshole like him. Now it was time to leave, so at least Axel could come back home.

Since he was adamant that she had to leave before he brought him back, there was no doubt he had someone keep an eye on her.

But before she dropped the book, she picked up a pen and scribbled something on the last page; words he'd find later, when it was too late to take back what he'd done.

As she dragged her small suitcase down the living room, she met Catherine sitting on her wheelchair in the center of the room.

When she reached her front, she stopped, looking at her with deep sadness, “As you might already know, I have finally divorced your son.”

“I give up my child to fulfill your happy family fantasy.”

Catherine scoffed, rolling her eyes. She’d already heard about the divorce so it wasn't news to her, “Don’t think you’re doing us a favour, Arabella. You owe us this.”

“I took you in wholeheartedly, but as soon as you were old enough, you bit the hand that fed you. So don't play victim around me.” she said, leaning back with a maddening smirk, “It's disgusting.”

“I’m playing victim?” Arabella muttered, a laugh slipping out, sharp, disbelieving, entirely humorless. “So what do we call you who weaponize your immobility against me every single time?”

Catherine's brows creased with fury. Arabella was talking back now? How dare she.

“If you had just let Dad drive in peace…If you hadn't started arguing about HIS decision to change HIS will…” Arabella’s voice broke as the memories of that night flashed in her face again.

The shouting. The arguments. The sudden break fail. The crash. Blood. Darkness.

“...maybe Dad would still be with us now.”

She'd been in the back seat, silent, as Catherine railed against Victor's decision to change his will in Arabella's favor. The shouting escalated. Victor turned to respond.

He never saw the truck.

The impact through the driver's side killed him instantly. Arabella and Catherine survived.

And Catherine had spent five years making sure everyone believed it was Arabella's fault.

“You…” Catherine cut in sharply, but that was all she could do. She didn't have any words to counter her.

Ms. Shaw who was just walking into the living room thought to defend her boss, “How dare you speak to madam…”

Arabella shot her a cold glance, forcing her mouth shut, but she didn't have words for her. Didn't have time to waste on her.

She wiped off her tears, facing Catherine again, “Making me take the blame might have eased your guilt…but I’ve had enough. Now is your turn.”

“Keep enjoying the attention and control you have over Adrian because of your condition, but stop making him hate Father, because we both know neither of you deserve him.” She dragged her suitcase away.

Catherine’s eyes were bloodshot, jaws clenched and fingers digging furiously into the iron railings of her chair.

Yet she had no words to defend herself.

Arabella suddenly stopped as she reached the doorway, looking back at the big mansion that held both her happiest and saddest memories.

Her gaze darted back to Catherine even as hot tears blurred her vision.

“As of today, I have paid my debt to this family for raising me.”

Her voice broke even as she tried hard to hold back her pain, “I-I…might never understand why you suddenly hate me so much after all the love we shared in all those years.”

“But…” she paused again, wiping off her tears, speaking more steadily this time, “I will come back. To take everything that belongs to me.”

For once she could swear she saw tears in Catherine's eyes, but maybe it was just her blurred vision.

She turned away, restraining her tears with all her might as she walked out of the mansion. The one she once called home.

Arabella had to cover her mouth to hide her uncontrollable sobs as she walked along the pedestrian.

This is where it ends. The love. The hate. The pain. The guilt. The humiliations.

She looked back again, even though only the top balcony of their house was barely in view.

“I will come back for you Axel. I promise.”

She pulled out her phone and began moving the money—splitting it across accounts Adrian couldn't access, accounts she'd set up before but didn't use.

$5 million. Her escape fund. Her revenge fund.

Her new beginning.

In her heartbreak, she had forgotten to book a cab and it was rare to find wandering cabs in such a high society area.

Luckily for her, a cab drove out of the estate, stopping before her. She didn't hesitate and entered.

“Oasis Hotel.” She said as she pulled out her phone and started to make her reservation.

She planned to stay in the hotel for the night while she booked a ticket.

When she raised her head, she noticed the driver had passed the intersection leading to the hotel.

She looked back through the window to be sure before she spoke up, “Hey, I think you missed the lane.

No response.

Arabella adjusted to her seat and spoke again, “Hey Mister, is there another route you plan to follow?”

Still no response.

A cold dread washed through Arabella’s body. But she didn't want to show it.

“Stop the car!” She ordered.

But the driver didn't.

“Stop the car or I will call the police.” Arabella threatened.

Finally, the car slowly came to a halt.

Arabella attempted to step out of the car but it was on central lock.

“Who are you? What do you want from me?” Arabella panicked but the driver maintained his silence, searching for something in his pocket.

Arabella quickly dialed 911, threatening, “The police will…”

Her voice trailed off to a mumble as the driver suddenly turned, pressing a cloth to her face.

Arabella struggled, her mind going through the identity of her possible abductor. Adrian? Serena? Catherine?

Her mind scrambled for a reason until everything slowly went dark.